Istanbul

City of the World's Desire

As the capital of two successive, powerful empires; the first Christian and Greek Byzantine, the second Islamic and Ottoman, Istanbul really is a city of cultural contrasts. Istanbul is a place unlike any other you will ever visit, where ancient cathedrals and blue-domed mosques and their minarets battle for control of the skyline.

Formally known to the world as Constantinople, there is so much to see in this city of culture and history that as a tourist you will never possibly see it all – well certainly not until you’ve worn out a good few pairs of shoes in the process.